Kenneth Village Eats

We decided the back way home would be best after dropping off our sister at Burbank Airport and seeing on the way that the south 5 was going to be a patience-bending bear.

So, we meandered. We zigzagged our way to the other side of the 5 until we hit a dead end at the foothills and turned right onto Sunset Canyon Drive. Sunset turns into West Mountain Street, on which we continued before taking a right “downhill” onto Grandview Avenue. And within a few blocks we found ourself in old territory. A friend used to live in the area and we’d brought her young girl to Kenneth Village on West Kenneth Road between Grandview and and Sonora Avenue.

A few stores stand empty, including the old fashioned Kenneth Road Prescription Pharmacy and Medical Supply at the corner of Kenneth and Grandview. A large red, black, and white sign offers to lease 3,600+ square feet, we say some yellow and white striped exterior window shades tattered, and Chris & Toms Liquor’s peeling sign, papered windows and gated frontage looked forlorn.

We were unable to try Yoga-urt because it was too early in the day. Yoga-urt offers organic soft serve, smoothies, and affogatos. The soft serve comes in flavors like salted caramel zen made with coconut sugar syrup, tantric tart with Yoga-urt’s own almond cashew base, strawberry serenity, and radiant golden rose made with rosewater, turmeric, cardamom, and saffron. All Yoga-urt is organic and non-dairy with added probiotics.

Mi Corazon is on the opposite side of the street and its website states:

The ambitious and arty two year-old cantina is the vision of Jeremy Swan, a star of TLC’s “America’s Worst Tattoos,” and wife Vanessa Urzua Swan, who has perfected her recipes with her grandmother’s home-cooking as its foundation.

Mi Corazon offers meat, vegetarian, and vegan entrées. Appetizers include elote, Mexican corn-on-the-cob smeared with homemade mayo, Mexican cheese, and Mexican chili powder. The beef tinga is made with grass-fed beef and fish options include wild-caught snapper and ahi tuna. Beverages include bottled and on tap Mexican beers, as well as wine, and homemade agua fresca, jamaica, and horchata. Need a cocktail? Naturally, margaritas are prevalent or you can try a blanco loco, which is Paprov vodka with Mi Corazon’s “secret recipe” horchata.

We walked into Art’s Meat Market & Deli. It’s bare bones, yet orderly and clean. Take a seat, you can borrow a book. Besides a variety of meats available from the butcher, deli meats and cheeses are available, and grilled sausages, and freshly cooked whole chickens. Part of one side is for fresh produce and bottled drinks. Right in front of the cash register are freshly prepared juices to go.

Slabs o’ bacon

We opted to buy a few things and take them home as it was still early in the day. We ordered a pastrami sandwich, thinly sliced, but dry so we could heat it up later. That turned out well: the pastrami was tender and flavorful, if not overly juicy (it was very lean).

We decided to try a Hungarian sausage that was tasty, lean, and rough (in texture) without too much of a spicy bite. We splurged on a chicken pot pie, made with the fresh roasted chickens and filled with surprisingly not-mushy vegetables: carrots, peas, corn, potatoes, onions, and celery. The chicken proved very tender, as stated the vegetables held their crunch, the pastry crust was sturdy without being tough and tasting of butter without being overwhelming. The white sauce was spiced with thyme, and happily, it wasn’t too rich or gloppy or too much; just enough to coat the filling ingredients.

Lastly, as we went to pay, we saw the deli’s fresh juices: the orange one was pure freshly squeezed orange juice, the red one a mixture of beets, celery, green apple, celery, and kiwi. We chose the green option, which consisted of parsley, kale, green apple, celery, kiwi, and ginger. With the first sip, it provides an immediate pop thanks to the ginger. Overall, it’s a nice blend of sour and not-too-sweet. And we felt incredibly healthy, too, just for choosing the fresh juice (let alone drinking it). We’ve got a long way to go in the healthy, clean-eating department—we were proud we resisted the gum balls.

Art’s is also busy for breakfast we were told. On the menu: strawberry crepes, lox, croque madame, a mushroom wrap, a bacon wrap, poached asparagus, vegetable Benedict, traditional eggs Benedict, and salmon Benedict, just to name a few.

Photo credit: Art’s Deli.

Past a parking lot and Team Rock Properties is Village French Bakery where many people sat outside on a balmy late morning. Apparently the owner is a French-trained boulanger. We can state that the array and number of cookies, pastries, tarts, and cakes was almost overwhelming—though all delicious and beautiful. The woman wasn’t happy with us snapping photos, so we don’t have a lot to show. The almond croissant we purchased was lovely; flaky, yet tender.

One place where we would like to dine is George’s Cecina Italiana. If the food is anywhere as cool and funky as the interior, this could be a great spot. Once inside, we felt like we’d transported to Europe circa 15th century (kind of, while squinting, and with imagination). The ambience is created by maroon tablecloths topped with a diamond of white, dark green wainscoting, dark paintings, wrought iron works, and forked faux torch lighting. The element we coveted was the wooden door: rough and basic with a particular simplicity and style. The ceiling is curved on the edges, too, and corners are rounded. Very moody, harkening to the medieval.

George’s menu appears to be what one would expect with various pastas and sauces, chef’s specials of angel hair pomodoro with shrimp or penne alfredo prosciutto, as well as pizzas of any kind. A bit of a twist: shrimp can be ordered by the bucket, as can chicken and ribs.